I, for one, welcome our new Western Canadian Overlords. Sure couldn't be any worse - and we'd have a certain faux-french speaking monkey off our backs once and for all.

Stephen,

The CTV pundits are destroying PMSH's reputation. What can be done? For the next few weeks, even today, I want to see my Prime Minister, who I respect immensely to reach out and mend fences. No more games!

PMSH has NOW reached out and legitimately, the ball is in the other court, to look respectable.

Now we will see the truth of the coalition's agenda.

Those out here have never been so outspoken with regard to western separation. If you find hesitation its from the elderly who have over half a century of being a "Canadian" under their belts and at some time enjoyed the respect our soldiers earned over in Europe. That feeling doesn't exist in the young westerner and in its place you have an identification with being "Western Canadian". To loot the coffers for a losing industrial base which had its wares forced upon the west in the first place is not something anyone will be able to sell any place west of the Manitoba/Ontario border. You won't find anyone out here saying "Warehoused in Ontario or Quebec IS worth the additional 40% those extra fingers in the pie call for!" unless they're collecting a check from the Liberal or NDP party and able to read the script without laughing.

This has been the acid test business wise and a lot have sailed through it in good standing thus far. Those are the interests you can invest my money in thank you very much. Those who's existence is based upon forcing a population to buy that product through protective tariffs and trade restrictions rather than a superior product at a justifiable price absolutely NEED to be set on the ice flow and cast adrift. If not then there's a lot of us who also would rather a guaranteed and substantial income instead of constantly having to be competitive.

Thank you LIberals and NDP for holding the door open for a new round of national unity crisis and Quebec referendum!

No Stephen, you don't have to worry about western or Alberta separation. What you will have to start panicking about if these three scumbags are successfully in their coup attempt is quebec separation. The reason being is that people in western canada will viciously counter-attack quebec, quebecers and everything they love and believe in, with such livid hatred and determination that it will ignite that province of mooches into a inferno fire ball from hell. Albertan's will not let these three quebecers destroy us without a fight. And yes, we'll get beaten, but we won't be alone this time. Everyone pays this time. It's called "Going Nuclear" or "Mutual Self Destruction".

She will be returning her Order of Canada when?

She can then hang around with other treasonous pieces of garbage like Parizeau and Duceppe.

I strongly feel that the time has come for the Western Provinces to have meaningful discussions as to the creation of a western federation.
By setting up our own political infrastructure...that being control of our policing,pension,a financial hub etc.; the West can demonstrate that we are 'big kids' and are quite capable of managing our affairs.
I am not proposing that the West pull out of Canadian Federation at this time and perhaps ever...only that we show a degree of self autonomy that sends the clear message to Ottawa and yes Quebec,that we are serious players in the federation known as Canada and that we expect fairness in representation and a functioning plan to move this great country along in the 21st century.
Who knows? Perhaps we could set an example for Quebec to alter her way of thinking and be a more active and participating member.
If not we should leave...this can't go on...it is unproductive.

Thank you Simma Holt.
cheers Bubba

Well, that's how I'm feeling right now.

Everyone's up in arms about Quebec's feelings. Newsflash: There's a whole other part of the country out West. Dion, Jack and Gilles are trying to take away my vote and my voice.

Wow!. This chick has bigger balls then all three of the stooges.
Bet she doesn't get an invite when the tree amigos finally steal the government
away from the people.
Way to go Simma

stephane dion is about as qualified as celine dion and personally, id rather have her baby be the prime minister than him

My concern is that the demarcation point in Canada should be Ontario's eastern border not it's western border. Possibly Western Canada will include us if we promise to leave the Toronto Star behind.

wow

Western separation, make no mistake, is a sleeping bear. At least in my former province (BC) and for sure in my current one (AB). From what I hear SK probably has a lot of hibernating separation minded folk as well.

This was almost a wake-up call, for those that dismiss it out of hand, do so at your peril.

When you wake something suddenly from a deep sleep, it's usually pretty grouchy.

The 5-week chill should fix this machina-dion.

Harper got us into this mess. He needs to resign.

Conservative for Prentice

Stephan Dion, Dec. 10, 1998: "Let me sum up this separatist-style politics of booty ... It consists of demanding something from the federal government; more power, more money. If the federal government says no, then you return to Quebecers and you tell them: You see how unyielding and unfair this federation is to you, we've got to get out! If the federal government says yes, the message to Quebecers becomes: You see the bargaining power you get by electing separatists, so imagine the power you'd have if you voted 'Yes' in a referendum ... So how does one thwart this logic of booty? Quite simply, by refusing to play the game. By stating very clearly that one has no intention of giving in to this kind of blackmail ... We won't improve this social union by trying to accommodate the separatists or those who might be tempted to vote for them."

Straight Talk, Speeches and Writings on Canadian Unity - Stephane Dion, Published by McGill-Queen's University Press

Power grab, power grab, power grap....I believe that the majority of Canadians have seen this coalition for what it is....it most certainly doesn't have what is good for CANADA as its driving force....no, its POWER! If they really had Canada's best interests at heart...they would have made the present elected government WORK instead of letting the Bloc hog at the trough dictate to CANADA....a most disgusting coalition in my mind. I hope some of the MP's that are within this coalition come to their senses when the House comes back in 2009

Can Saskatchewan join you Mr Holt?

get a spellcheck and then retire from living in the past, Trudeau was nothing but a spend freak, we are now barely getting back to normal from his deficits.

Stephen, This issue has gotten completely out of hand and I thought some constitutional expert would have put it to bed before this but here is something I'd like to bring to your attention. In a Parliamentary Democracy, under the Statute of Westminster the Governor General of Canada can request the Leader of the Opposition if he can consult with the opposition members of the House and reach an agreement to form a government with them. To consult with opposition members before Royal consent is given would appear to be a breach of the Statute. Once again can you with your accessability find someone with an answer to the timing of forming a coalition.

Well, today Stephen Harper assured himself of a place in Canadian history books.

The first Prime Minister in our history to circumvent the will of the House and the will of the People and avoiding a confidence vote in Parliament by political maneuvering and shutting down Parliament while an economic crisis is brewing.

Even Paul Martin, facing certain no confidence, had the courage to face his fate and not run and hide from Canadian Parliamentary democracy.

The coalition was a bad idea, but at least it was democratic. This is a historic blunder by Harper compounding a historic blunder. Canadians want Parliament to work, not take a vacation.

Yeah Paul Martin sure took it like a man. Let me see his playbook, Page One poach an MP and make them a cabinet minister. Page Two appeal on Television for some time. Page three get in bed with Jack Layton to fend off a vote. Page Four rage like a fool during the dying hours of the election to replace you by fornicating with Buzz Hargrove in public.

Yeah Paul Martin, that is what we need more of.

Then there is always the MacKenzie King model, lose the election and buy support of the Progressives to hold onto power, have your cabinet cronies get caught stealign and try to appoint them to the senate to get out of it. Then immediately vote to defeat the legitimate plurality power and somehow fool the people again to trust you. Good thing Jean Chretien or Pierre Trudeau is not still there he might pull that off.

Isn't it nice that everytime the Bloc rears it's head and the rest of Canada (Western) thinks that it has had enough it proclaims that the west should seperate from the rest of Canada. How sad that the same people who would promote western seperatist views are the same people who attack Quebecer's for the same views. I don't think people in Quebec (majority) want anything to do with seperating and I don't think westerner's do either. Look at what the separtist movement has done too Quebec (not for). They are demonized by so many other Canadians by association. I am from Alberta and I don't think that the majority of Liberals or NDP supporters are morons because their leaders (All from Quebec I might add - including Layton) are trying to wrestle power from the Conservatives, If the Libs and the NDP really want to make a difference they should ban with the Tory's to pass legislation to outlaw/ban the Bloc from ever running in another election. The longer this party is allowed to send people to Ottawa the longer we will have to deal with our country always being on the brink of breaking apart.
I have an excellent idea. Let us move the nations capital to Regina or Edmonton...then we'll find out who really wants to run for office for the good of the country.

Thank you for having the decentcy to speak up on this matter.

Wow! I'm glad to hear that. I miss the "natural governing party" the Liberal Party used to be when it was at the centre of the political spectrum. What on earth are the current Liberals thinking? They don't give me the choice but to vote Conservative now.

I knew Simma from her Liberal days - that was the same year I got involved in political campaigns.

She came into Lorne Mayencourt's campaign office while I was there and gave him a donation and a letter of support.

http://lookupconservative.blogspot.com/2008/09/...

A great lady.

Oh come now, it's more likely the seperatists are all hiding in Festung Alberta, where a mere 700,000 voters managed to install over two dozen of their Cons in Ottawa. But the million voters who voted Green got ziltch, nada. What a great democracy we have, eh?

There's no hope for anything better than the spittle fest we've witnessed this week without Proportional Representation. The system we have is inherently unfair, even though it produces some great humour at times.

I think Justin Trudeau pegged Harper perfectly : the guy who pulls the fire alarm so he doesn't have to take the test.

Please take Alberta and Saskatchewan with you Together we would be ecopnomic Powerhouse

so lets get the ball rolling where do I sign for the west seperation??

Where'd you get this?

It is long past the time that Canadians are asked if they want Quebec in Canada. When does someone have the courage? We would have space on our packages enabling us to read them. Is it not important what Canada wants?

Why is there no return email address - if you are going post a statement like this, you must allow a direct response to the supposed author. The only coup here, and the only real contempt of the democratic process is the suspension of parliament. The GG has failed to allow demoncracy to run its natural course and is actually suspending parliament, the governing body of the country, during the worst financial crisis in a generation. If viewed with any clarity at all, this is insane and terrifying.
"Canada did not vote for Stephane Dion as leader..." No they did not. Neither did they vote for Harper as leader. We elect MP's, not leaders. Is it possible that a former MP could be so badly misinformed?

Now I remember why I voted for Simma Holt in 1974!

Guys. You won. Put some sealant into the chip, will ya?

So why don't you get back on the horse and participate in running this country? I agree with you, there are no true grits anymore. I also agree with you that the separatists lie not in Quebec but in the West. I truly hope you're not saying that your supporting Harper, he who makes laws and breaks them at his behest, who brings up non-issues and likes to spend money wasting time, attacking everyone else. The coalition is a good idea, as Harper has done nothing but hide behind oak doors and hoard his power, but not with Dion at the helm.

Follows my line of thinking, exactly. I"m tired of pouring money into the East, only to have them extract more and more. We've got the resources - let's go it alone. Rae

Wow!!
Bang on Simma.

I thought that diatribe smelled of Reform.

Absolutely correct! The moves those three dishonorable leaders made is seditious and, if the country had more spine and resolve, they should hang them for treason. No one! I mean, no one should try to steal an election from the ligitimately elected goverment. I am a life-long liberal who will vote Conservative next time. And I hope, in the next election, the people of Canada will give a whopping majority to the Conservatives so we can sweep those three pathetic and contemptible losers from Parliament.

Absolutely correct! The move by three three sore and pathetic losers is seditious and, if the nation had more spine and resolve, they should be arrested and hanged for treason. No one! I mean, no one should try and steal the election from a legitimately elected goverment. I am an outraged and long-time libereral who will vote Conservative next time. I hope that in the next election the Canadians will give a whopping majority to the Conservatives so that we can sweep those three pathetic and contemptible losers from Parliament!

As a Canadian I have some problems with a leadership made up of an out of touch academic citizen of France, (will he ask for a co census about which tie he should wear - if his wife will let him replace her in that department) and a blowhard socialist whose supporters are to a large extent responsible for the collapse of the Canada's auto industry and a man who has demonstrated an lust for power and hatred for our country.

The backup Liberal leadership hopefuls are if anything worse. An man who left Canada (which He loves?) and is a confirmed academic with all the ivory tower experience anyone should need to lead a country through a financial perfect storm.

Mr.. Ray is perhaps the most dangerous of all. He is a man who offers to do for Canada what he did for Ontario and illustrates that he has no guiding principles (by his defection to the Liberals when he could no longer make it with the NDP) except a lust for power and functions as an agent for his brother in laws company - the ubiquitous Power Corporation.

I wish I could tell it like it is but I have this problem with being too reticent.

Don

As a foreigner from a Banana Republic, I moved to Canada expecting to move into a first world environment. To my surprise, I found Canada worse than a Banana Republic - trying to overthrow an elected government weeks after winning. God help Canadians

If you look at the history of coalition governments, you will find that they fail due to greed, broken promises and a total disregard for what the citizens want. This attempted "coup" has made me wonder as to the intellect of those trying to overthrow the government in such a disasterous economic circumstance. Stability is something most Canadians will be craving right now, not power hungry megalomanics trying to run a country - apparent they are obviously incapable of running. To think that Layton had this planned during the last election makes me wonder what out unthinkable acts he capable of. Does he not get it - NO-ONE WANTS HIM IN POWER! He reminds me of Mugabe in the 1970's promising everyone the earth and now he is the supreme dictator.

What this country needs right now is for all parties to work together to help keep the economy going.

This has always puzzled me the way our Parlarment functioned. In US, where all elected senators and congress are suppose to speak on behalf of the people who elected him in his running area, instead of the party they represent. Which means they can vote against their President when necessary and won't get the look from other fellow party members. But in Canada, although people vote for one specific person to become their neighbourhood's MP, this MP only become a die hard supporter of the party leader, which means its really up to the leader to make decision, not the MPs, not the people of Canada who elected those MPs. This to me is a one way street, once Canadian choosen one street to enter, there is no turning back until you reach the end of that street, then comes another chance for you to choose another one way street.
" Like it or not, its your choice ! " , that pretty much sums it up my feeling on Canadian political party.

Why can't MP really speak up for the Canadians they represents, instead being hand clapping company man who sits there following orders and waits for their next pay cheque ?

Mr. Dion,
Here is a question that screams for an answer. To all of the volunteers that dedicated and sacrificed their money, time and energy on doing everything they could to ensure a Liberal candidate won a seat in the last election only to fall short to a NDP or Bloc candidate. What do you tell these people? What do you say to those who fought the enemy every minute of every day of that campaign; with no thought of person gain; their only goal to see the Liberal party become victorious, what do you say to them? What do you say to the candidates who put their life aside to defeat their NDP and Bloc rivals? What do say to those who suffered malicious personal attacks, who went to battle for the Liberal cause only to come up short against a victorious NDP or Bloc candidate? How do you tell them, “Thanks for your dedication, thanks for your hard work, thanks for your tenacity but I am going to form a coalition with those that beat you. I am siding with those I asked you to sacrifice your personal lives to defeat, how do you explain that to them? You have lied to your very own people; you used them as cannon fodder. They have become collateral damage for a coalition. That is the legacy you have to live with now Mr. Dion. Layton, Duceppe this legacy is yours as well.
Sincerely,
An average Canadian talking with his family around the kitchen table

Mr. Dion,
Here is a question that screams for an answer. To all of the volunteers that dedicated and sacrificed their money, time and energy on doing everything they could to ensure a Liberal candidate won a seat in the last election only to fall short to a NDP or Bloc candidate. What do you tell these people? What do you say to those who fought the enemy every minute of every day of that campaign; with no thought of person gain; their only goal to see the Liberal party become victorious, what do you say to them? What do you say to the candidates who put their life aside to defeat their NDP and Bloc rivals? What do say to those who suffered malicious personal attacks, who went to battle for the Liberal cause only to come up short against a victorious NDP or Bloc candidate? How do you tell them, “Thanks for your dedication, thanks for your hard work, thanks for your tenacity but I am going to form a coalition with those that beat you. I am siding with those I asked you to sacrifice your personal lives to defeat, how do you explain that to them? You have lied to your very own people; you used them as cannon fodder. They have become collateral damage for a coalition. That is the legacy you have to live with now Mr. Dion. Layton, Duceppe this legacy is yours as well.
Sincerely,
An average Canadian talking with his family around the kitchen table

Nice sentiments...No really...trouble is that these three cowards are missing the gene that directs Introspection within the human psyche...in other words like the career criminal hoping to get leniency at the sentencing hearing,who tells the vctims's family that he's sorry when in fact he's only sorry he got caught...these three hold no remorse but at the very least should for all the folks that believed in their respective parties and gave of themselves accordingly.
The words ruthless and unprincipled come readily to mind.

Evidently the whole Liberal party should be shown political pergatory for at least the next ten years. Even the wanna-be leader Ignatief should have shown the Liberal colours he supposedly believes in by aligning himself with the government rather than sitting with his mouth shut and condoning a coup d'tat which if he has any education knows full well that to conspire against the sitting government without the consent of the Crown is an offense against the Crown and the people of Canada.

Total Contempt for Canadian Voters is the best comment I've read yet on the coalition situation.

There is absolutley NO precedent in Canada where a coalition is formed to take power from an established governmnent.

In 1985 in Ontario David Peterson did form a government with the backing of the NDP despite not winning the plurality of seats. Frank Miller and the conservatives did win the election but without enough support had not choice but to sit in opposition. No one suggested there was any merit to Frank Miller trying to govern when Peterson asked the Lieutenant Governor to dissolve and none would have reasonably expected it after nearly two years of rule.

In the King-Byng affair a similar situation occured when King though losing the election was able to cobble together a government with the backing of the Progressive party. This government showed signs of failure as King's cabinet was getting caught with their hands in the cookie jar. True, Governor General Byng did refuse King's request to dissolve parliament and called on the conservatives and Arthur Meighen to form a government.

It was the Meighen government THE ACTUAL VICTORS in the 1925 election that faced and lost a vote of confidence and it was his government that then called the election.

In no case has a coalition formed after cabinet had been chosen. This is especially poignant given that the opposition did not seek out the Governor General to form a coalition immediately. Had they done so Harper would have been obliged to sit in opposition. This hypothetical government could only have been formed with ALL THREE Opposition partes playing from the same songsheet.

That is not what happened in October when Layton campaigned in Quebec as an effective and inclusive party for progressives courting Bloc vote while in the Rest Of Canada courting LIberals in the same manner. Celine Dion also adamantly ruled out a coalitoin whenever it was presented first with Lizzie the Greeen Monster and later with Layton where he stated that a coalition with the NDP would be a financial disaster.
Only Gilles Duceppe effectively campaigned on the basis that he could stop Harper but he was only stopping him for Quebec and he also emphatically ruled out sitting in government no less than during the debate when asked about being prime minister.

After approving the throne speech there is no doubt that this is a transparent grasp at power fueled by politicians addicted to the public purse strings for their survival. Isn't it odd that the Conservatives can ask people for money and get it but these three must expropriate it?

In the event the budget and the government is defeated I believe that Harper has not only the right but the obligatoin to visit Rideau Hall again and demand an election. While the Governor General is not obligated to allow this I can see no precedent where she can justify calling the coaliton together. A government with a leader who does not even have the confidence of his own party cannot be formed in anticipation that the Libs actually get it right with their next choice.

Again it would be contempt of the Canadian Voters to do anything else but ask them to decide a simple question
Coalition or Conservatives?

In that election the conservatives should insiste on only debating one challenger at a time both in the national debates and at the riding level. Four intelligent debates is the answer not the free for all we saw last time. The Conservatve message should extend the precedent sought by the coalition that only a majority Conservative government is acceptable. The Conservatives need to say they will not govern in a minority because the other parties insist they will not deal with them. The other issue of the election simply has to be the $2.00 whoring of our vote. If that is what got these guys all up in arms they have to stand before the people of Canada and say they deserve the cash and justify it to us.

Any proposal that includes putting Stephen Dion in charge of Canada is absolutely ridiculous. If he somehow weasels his way in B.C should definitely separate. The man wasn't deemed fit to lead the Liberal part a while ago, but make him dependent on separatists and he is fit to rule the country. Something doesn't seem there.

And now starts the catalyst...

I just have to say one thing. As a proud Québécois, I am really glad this imaginary country is falling apart. I don't need rednecks from the WROC to destroy my beautiful nation's ambitions.

If this mess leads to western separation we definitely want the line drawn to exclude Ontario. Preston gave the east its last chance and they are doing everything they can to pass on this opportunity. Besides, the population of Ontario would dominate as it does now ergo, no functional change.
The first act the 3 stooges would perform is flood all available senate seats perpetuating the eastern hegemony, quite possibly with luminaries such as Jaques Parisite. Do we want to take decades to establish western soverienty association or just bust a move?
Think on it, all the natural resourses the entire globe wants, potentially 3 coastlines, a motivated and educated populace. Truely a land of opportunity.

Very unparliamentary language from a former MP. This does nothing to help the situation. Whatever you think of the other parties, each MP has won their seat.

Was Mr. Harper expecting to run the government like he had a majority, when his party only had a minority in the House of Commons? A minority government is always at risk of being defeated if it can't work with other parties. That's how our system works. Defeating a minority government is legal and legitimate.

Legitimate in that it wasn't thought that the vote would be so cut up with various parties as to open the chance of such actually taking place for so self serving a reason? I believe that. This reads like internet scams in that the book not accounting for it makes doable? Sure if you apply things against a static set of rules meant for another time this is "their right" but after looking at 100K plus of devaluation in my portfolio, I'll hold to this NOT being the right time for such idiocy.